Skip to Content

Myeloma Treatment at the University of Colorado Cancer Center

UCCC is the region's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

Call us at (720) 848-0300.

A diagnosis of myeloma can be overwhelming. But there is hope.

Myeloma treatment and therapies have greatly improved in the last 20 years. A well-coordinated and customized sequence of chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation has greatly extended the lives of most patients with multiple myeloma.

A pioneer in advanced treatment

The University of Colorado Cancer Center has been a pioneer in these advances. Beyond our cutting-edge successes in the fight against cancer, you’ll find a caring team of experts you can trust. And the same expert team of doctors, nurses and specialists walk alongside you throughout your entire journey.

Our dedication to a cure for cancer is unwavering. That’s why our 5-year survival rates are up to 30% higher than state, regional and national averages.

To begin your journey with a committed and caring team of myeloma experts, call us today at (720) 848-0300.

A Message from the Director

Dr. Choon-Kee Lee

Choon-Kee Lee, MD, Director of the Myeloma and Amyloidosis programs at UCH.

Treatment therapies for people with multiple myeloma have taken great leaps forward during the past 20 years. The vanguard of these improvements is high-dose chemotherapy used in tandem with stem cell transplants in a well-coordinated sequence of therapy.

This treatment regimen has extended the lives of most patients with multiple myeloma beyond 10 years. The commitment we share with you is to find the best customized treatment for your unique situation.

I established the Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program at University of Colorado Hospital's Cancer Center in 2006. We specialize in treating patients with multiple myeloma, amyloidosis and other related conditions.

Our treatment results are better than the majority of myeloma programs in the country, and our records of treatment safety are by far the best in the country.

Our medical team of highly trained, dedicated, and compassionate physicians, nurse practitioners and coordinators works with you to achieve the best possible outcomes.

University of Colorado Hospital, the Rocky Mountain region's only academic medical center, has been ranked among the nation's best hospitals by U.S. News and World Report for our exemplary patient care and superior outcomes. Among many other honors, it is currently ranked among the top 10 academic medical centers in the United States.

Our Cancer Center at UCH is one of only 41 American facilities that the National Cancer Institute designates as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. To get this designation, you must be conducting top-notch scientific research to identify the most effective treatments for patients with cancer, providing excellent results and extensive patient education.

Referrals

For consultations and referrals, please call Tina Russell, our outpatient coordinator, at (720) 848-0372.

Clinical Trials

A partial list of our current myeloma clinical trials:

  • A study of induction therapy with 'bortezomib + lenalidomide + dexamethasone + doxorubicin (VLDA)' for patients with multiple myeloma: UCHSC 08-0814
  • A study of infusional melphalan + bortezomib for myeloablative therapy prior to autologous transplant for patients with multiple myeloma: UCHSC 08-0817
  • A study for therapy with 'bortezomib + lenalidomide + dexamethasone' with 'lenalidomide + dexamethasone' as post-transplant consolidation and maintenance for patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma following autologous transplantation: UCHSC 08-0816

To find out more about clinical trials, contact Colleen Kellackey at (720) 848-1246 or Colleen.Kellackey@ucdenver.edu

 

Doctor Patient Consult

Myeloma and Amyloidosis at a Glance

Myeloma is a type of cancer in the plasma cells, which are immune system cells in the bone marrow. Some people have no symptoms, but others may have problems such as anemia, elevated blood calcium, kidney damage, bone disease, amyloidosis or frequent infections.

Amyloidosis is the name for a group of diseases in which organ systems in the body accumulate deposits of abnormal proteins known as amyloid. Although amyloidosis is not cancer, it is a blood disorder that can be disabling or life-threatening. Most commonly, it affects the kidney, heart, liver and autonomic or peripheral nerves.

  • There are 69,598 people living with or in remission from myeloma in the U.S.
  • Approximately 20,180 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the United States each year.
  • The median age at diagnosis is 70 years; myeloma rarely occurs in people under age 45.
  • From 1975 to 2007, the incidence of myeloma increased by 11.4 percent.
  • The incidence of myeloma among African Americans was almost 105 percent greater than myeloma incidence among Caucasians in 2007.
  • About 1,200 to 3,200 new amyloidosis cases are diagnosed nationwide each year.  

Source: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

University of Colorado Cancer Center Request an Appointment

Cancer - Need Support?

Related Providers